Vans Warped Tour to pack in a Virginia Beach party Tuesday

The Boston Globe nailed it when the paper described the Vans Warped Tour as "a punk rock Disneyland, with so much to do that visitors had two options: establish a plan and pace themselves or simply enjoy the ride moment to moment."

Now in its 14th year, Vans Warped is North America's longest-running tour festival. The caravan of buses and vans rolls into the parking lot of the Verizon Wireless Virginia Beach Amphitheater on Tuesday. About 50 hip punk and rock bands will perform on stages scattered across the venue grounds. A tent city featuring band merchandise, pop culture accessories and nonprofit causes provides a carnivallike experience, as do a variety of activities.

Here's some information to help you formulate your Warped Tour plan of attack.

PRIORITIZE

Two of your favorite bands at Warped Tour might be performing at the same time on different stages. Make a mental list in advance - and convince your friends you know best - of the groups you most want to see.

BAND SCHEDULE (MOST IMPORTANT)

You've prioritized your band must-see checklist and know you want to catch sets by Gym Class Heroes, The Pink Spiders and Say Anything. But did you know that the schedule for the tour bands changes daily?

As soon as you enter the front gate, ask venue officials where to locate the schedule sign. It's generally in the gated parking lot area where the stages and tents meet. There you'll find a complete list of stages with the performance time of each band.

AUTOGRAPHS AND PHOTO OPPORTUNITIES

Bands on the Warped Tour are very fan-friendly, and getting merchandise signed can be relatively easy. Many band members in lesser-known acts staff their own merchandise tent. Just walk right up, introduce yourself and they're generally happy to pose and sign.

More popular acts may only appear after their performance. They usually announce from the stage, "We'll be over at our tent right after this song." Also, WROX-FM (96.1) does live remotes from its tent, and many bands stop by for quick interviews. And it is very common to see band members walking around in the audience and watching other bands perform. Don't be shy.

HURLEY ZONE

Hurley, the fashion/skate company, will have a 40-by-40 enclosed area for fans to cool down, pick up free gear and meet recording artists from such acts as The Devil Wears Prada, Anberlin and Story of the Year. The easiest way to find the area is to look skyward for the tall, black Hurley flagpoles.

VANS AMATEUR MINI-RAMP SKATE JAM

About 25 prequalified local skateboarders will compete for cash prizes on a miniramp.

MYSPACE TENT

In case you didn't check out the music in advance, on-site computer terminals will be available for fans to listen and learn more about bands scheduled to perform. MySpace will also host several meet-and-greet sessions with bands in its tent.

INTERESTING STORY

Mike McColgan, singer for The Street Dogs, served in the first Gulf War. He returned to his native Boston, where he formed the Dropkick Murphys. Then in 1998, he gave up music to pursue his dream of becoming a Boston firefighter. In 2002, he decided to give music another try by forming The Street Dogs. His lyrics cover such topics as war, politics, unions, family, friends and camaraderie. Look for the band on the main stage.

LOCAL CONNECTION

Chris Raines, drummer for Christian screamo outfit Norma Jean, hails from Hampton Roads. Raines played percussion for Spitfire and is the former owner of Volume CD Exchange in Chesapeake.

GET INVOLVED

Warped Tour provides concertgoers with an array of nonprofit causes to get involved with. Included this year are Declare Yourself (voter registration), Take Action (community involvement cause), Trojan (sex education), FM World Charities (public health) and T.J. Martell Foundation Charity Ticket Auction (cancer and AIDS research).

REVERSE DAY CARE TENT

Parents accompanying their kids can be dropped off at this air-conditioned tent for a cold drink, massage and a movie. This way there'll be no moms asking, "When can we leave?"

PARKING

As usual, vehicles with four or more people can park in the "Carpool Parking" lot that's closer to the entrance. Note: Once you enter the festival, you can't leave and get back in.

WHAT TO BRING

Sunscreen There is little to no shade at this outdoor event. (Even the band members wear sunscreen.)

Snacks Any food brought in must be contained in a clear, 1-gallon zipped bag. Food is for sale at the venue.

Water One sealed bottle of water is permitted. Free water fountains are near restrooms. You can buy drinks, too.

Camera No professional camera or video equipment is allowed, but you may bring regular cameras.

Jeff Maisey, (757) 222-3934, jmaisey@pilotonline.com